In 2011 Perth had more than 30 days over 30 degrees C and thirty nights never falling under 20 C , on the last weekend of this spell.
On the Saturday afternoon while getting ready for a costume party and attending to the myriad necessary tasks of a Saturday, around the outside living area there was noticed an unpleasant smell.
Thoughts of a dead lizard or perhaps a mouse led to a cursory look around, behind the pots, under the BBQ. a sniffing of the air.
The last BBQ had been lamb chops and the BBQ had (guiltily) not been cleaned, this was the obvious culprit, but a sniff test didnt point to that. At midnight on returning from the costume party, when putting away the freezer packs and bag the smell was noticable. Firing up the BBQ and a mental promise to “clean it up tomorrow” meant a good nights sleep.
On the morrow, by 10am am left alone, time to get to the bottom of this.
Move all the pots, move the BBQ , move the fridge, its now 10:15 and pretty damn hot already, the smell is strong.
The horrible thought reforms, move some more pots and strain to look behind the ones that cant be moved.
To dispell the thought, and in the hope of a garden fertiliser the fence is approached.
Standing on the limestone seat that forms a comfortable step, the same that facilitated too few conversations. The view is clear , but no , that shape of blue triangle and pink rectanlge, surely not, it cannot be.
Dismount and walk around, mount the step again and yes.
Go to the phone, but whats the house number, go outside and check. Walk around the corner and the sun is fierce, no people to see, all hiding in the shelter of Sunday morning shade.
I know that Steve will be missed, a regular church goer. For years new the impending doom, but chosen rather church than doctor.
See the house, and the number, back to home to make the call.
000 – answer soon, tell them what I’ve seen and smelt, tell me to wait at home. for some reason I feel I should wait at his.
Sit outside, in the shade, the sun is hot and so the ground. lean against his garage door and know that this is stupid. I should be home in the shade, not sweating here in the sun. After time I head of home. Waiting for the expected call.
Time passes , and then the the call , we are knocking on 1, but 1A is where they should be.
They’ve aready been to see Steve, hes very dead is what they say and I know what they mean.
We stand there talking, the young neighbour, comes, she’s seen him yesterday or was it Thursday. No’
ones sure.
We will see you later, but they dont come.
The other neighbour is told,he saw the police, already knows. Would have visted today, always does on Sunday. Says he saw the priest and the police. All is done, Nell is told.
Later, the Priest drops by and noones home.
And that was Steve.
Some ones friend.
Some ones son